Ole Miss still has some real sorting out to do before Week 1 arrives, even with optimism humming around the program and a Heisman-caliber duo driving the offense.
The biggest question sits right where so many seasons get decided: up front. Protecting Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy is going to matter a lot, and the Rebels are still working through an offensive tackle battle that could shape the ceiling of the team.
Tommy Kinsler, who came over from Miami, and Carius Curne, the former LSU lineman, are the two names in the mix. Both bring starting experience from elsewhere, but neither has locked down the job for Ole Miss yet.
Pete Golding has already praised Kinsler, saying he has flashed SEC-level ability at offensive tackle. The issue is that Kinsler is carrying more weight than the staff wants, and he’ll need to trim down if he wants to hold up through a full, healthy season. The ability is there in bursts, but the Rebels are still chasing steadiness snap after snap.
Curne has also drawn strong words from Golding because of his tape and upside. The ceiling is obvious, and it could be the kind of talent that helps push Ole Miss past a hurdle. But Curne is still working back from spring surgery, and the staff simply hasn’t seen enough of him to feel comfortable calling the competition settled.
Golding’s plan is to let that fight play out through camp, with a real call expected closer to the mock game week before Louisville.
There’s a similar sense of uncertainty at receiver, where Ole Miss has essentially rebuilt the room through the portal. Most of Chambliss’ targets from last season are gone, either because they used up their eligibility or transferred out.
Jonhtay Cook, who came in from Syracuse, is expected to be a quality starter and was the Orange’s leading receiver in 2025, making him more than just a depth addition. Horatio Fields, a transfer from Auburn, has been quieter in the conversation, but he has shown the ability to win contested catches against defensive backs in one-on-one situations. Fields is also coming off a broken foot, though he still brings the kind of trait that has long fit this passing game.
For now, the receiver group remains something of a question mark until the games start. But the upside is obvious, and the potential for this collection of pass-catchers is through the roof.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Is Back At The Center Of LSUs Wildest Fight
A Louisiana court ruling opened the door for some former players to return to college football, and LSU moved quickly to take advantage, adding former NFL players to its roster, including Jack Pyburn. The decision has injected a fresh twist into an already messy recruiting and eligibility landscape, one that has put LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin right in the middle of a broader fight over who gets to keep playing and under what rules.
The reaction has been swift across the Power 4, with conferences including the SEC moving to impose penalties on programs that add players who previously signed professional deals. LSU, meanwhile, appears ready to push back and challenge those penalties in court, setting up another legal and administrative battle that could ripple well beyond Baton Rouge as the situation continues to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Freshmen Are Pushing For Roles Fans Cant Ignore
With fall camp winding down and Louisville looming on the opener, Ole Miss is in that familiar late-summer spot where the depth chart starts to sharpen but still leaves room for surprise. The Rebels bring back a solid core in Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy, Will Echoles and Suntarine Perkins, yet the real intrigue has been the way a few younger players have kept forcing their names into the conversation as practice has worn on.
Caleb Cunningham, Dorian Barney and Landon Barnes are all in the mix for meaningful roles, and that kind of competition matters for a roster trying to stay sharp beyond its established veterans. Pete Golding and Bryan Brown have both sounded encouraged by what they have seen from that group, and if that optimism carries into game week, Ole Miss could have a few freshmen making this team harder to prepare for than opponents might expect. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Landed A Veteran 7-Footer With One Huge Uncertainty
Ole Miss has added some size for the future with Micah Handlogten, the former Florida center who has committed to join the Rebels for the 2026-27 season. The 7-footer brings a familiar SEC pedigree after three years at Florida and a stop at Marshall, giving Ole Miss a veteran frontcourt piece to circle on the calendar even though the move is still well down the road.
The catch is the one every program will keep watching: Handlogten is seeking a fifth year of eligibility, and his status is still under review. His participation in NBA Summer League adds another wrinkle, though he reportedly did not sign a professional contract, leaving Ole Miss to wait on the ruling before this commitment becomes fully locked in. [Read more 🡒]